Thread controller for shuttle changing looms



July 21, 1936. 4 5, yoga 7 2,048,086

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOMS Filed Jan. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Lewis S. Vose.

Atto r neys L. S. VOS E Jul y"2l,,1936.

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOMS Filed Jan. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Lewis $.Vo3e I Patented July 21, 1936 PATENT OFFICE THREAD CONTROLLER FOR SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOMS Lewis S. Vose, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Crompt'on& Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 8, 1935, Serial No. 873 16 Claims. (01.139-227) This is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 610,409. This invention relates to improvements in shuttle changing looms and it is the general object of the invention to f improve the operation of such looms with respect to the weft of the outgoing empty shuttle.

In a certain well-known form of shuttle changing loom the lay remains at rest in rearward position during the replenishing period with the warp shed open. Under these conditions if the yarn extending from the outgoing shuttle is tightened or slackened because of irregular movements of the ejected shuttle there results a defective pick in the cloth. It is an important object of my 1 present invention to provide a thread cutter and clamp effective to grasp and hold the thread of the outgoing shuttle before the tension in the weft can be changed substantially by shuttle movement, and then cut the thread to prevent movement of the shuttle from-tightening it.

' clamp.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a thread controller which can be actuated by the shuttle carrier of a multicolor weft replenishing loom, the carrier startingits motion at a point in the cycle of the replenishing operations early enough to project the cutter-or clamp to-operative position with respect to the thread of the outgoing shuttle' before the latter has been moved appreciably'on the lay. In thisway the thread is maintained in position where it can be engaged by the'clamp or cutter and also the tension previously mentioned remains substantially unchanged. l

:It is a further objectof my invention to'provide' the cutter or clampwith a stationary mounting so that at the time of operating on the weft the support as well as the lay will be stationary and a rate of motion for the thread engaging elements most favorable can be attained with assurance'that this rate will not be disturbed due to lay motion.

In the particular loom shown herein the replenishing operation is accomplished by two shuttle advancersthe firstrof which is a carrier movable under'a plurality of reserve: shuttle stacks,

while the second is a conveyor which takes the shuttle from the carrier and moves toward the lay. If the depleted shuttlefails to reach a given point along its normal path of discharge the conveyor will be locked in forward position and pre-' vented from having a normal replenishing stroke. Underthese conditions looms of the type mentioned would ordinarily continue to operatedespite the fact that the shuttle ejecting mechanism might be deranged or otherwise unable to eject ,the shuttle. It is a further object of my present :invention to operate the thread cutting mechanism independently of the conveyor whenever a replenishment is called, so that even though the shuttle is not ejected through defective mechanism, the thread will be out and the filling stop motion, either of the side or center type, will stop the loom. The weaver can then correct the fault. This result I achieve by requiring the cutter to operate in conjunction with the carrier,

which is that part of the replenishing mechanism operating independently of shuttle ejection.

If the outgoing shuttle should leave an incomplete pick of fillingin the shed it is desirable to prevent resumption of weaving so that the weaver can remove the faulty thread before it is beaten into the cloth. Under these conditions there will be no thread for the thread clamp to catch' and there is an opportunity to utilize this condition in connection with a side filling fork to prevent restarting of the loom. The usual side weft fork is operated regularly from the bottom shaft of the loom and would be superfluous in the better class of looms which have center stop motions. I prefer to keep my side fork normally idle and preferably in a forward position whereit will not engage the weft in normal loom operation. During a shuttle changing operation the fork becomes operative and the thread clamp moves the thread of the old shuttle forwardly to a position where it cancoact with the fork. If no weft is present the stop motion acts through appropriate mechanism to prevent restarting of the loom. It is a further object of the invention to operate the thread clamp so that it will open in forward position while the lay is in rear position, thereby releasing the weft end of a previous shuttle changing operation from a position where it cannot later be dragged into the shed.

. Shuttle changing looms such as shown herein have a brake mechanism to stop the loom with the lay'in rear position. Due to wearing of the brake or inaccurate setting the loom may come to rest with the lay somewhat in front of back center. Thev thread cutter and clamp are prowill appear as the description'proc'eeds, my in vention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth 7 I The shuttle ejector mechanism is mounted on the lay and'comprises a box front .35 carried by "a..lifter.lever 36 pivotedat 31 to the lay. A'rod.

in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a con-- venient embodiment of my invention is set forth, Fig. lis a front elevation of a portion of a multi-color shuttle changingloorn having my invention applied thereto, i e e Fig. 2 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1,

illustrating the manner of operating. thethread cutter and clamp,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a magazine and parts of the lay and breast beam,'showing .the relation'of my cutter and'c'lamp to the magazine; lay and selvage trimmer, I Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section on line ;4 -4 of Fig.2, a

h Fig 5 is a detail 'of the jointed parts of the lever'looking in the direction of arrow-5. Fig."2, "Fig. 6 is a vertical detail section oniline 6 -6 Fig.' '7 is a'view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 with the magazine-and cutter clamp omitted,

'showing the side filling motion and its relation application Serial No. 593,814, the lay is at rest leases a' selected shuttle so that the same falls one; carrier l5. Levers l6 pivotedone at each side of the magazine asat I1 and actuated by a vertical rod I8 move the carrier first'in a for ward direction to the left as viewed'in Fig. 1, andthen back to the normal rear position whenever a changeof shuttles is called. A lever l9- controlled by a cam on the change shaft may effect this result. I

A conveyor'lever 2| pivoted at 22 on the frame is actuated by a cam 23, andis effective to take a shuttle'from the carrier and advance itftoward the lay bymeans of'a conveyor H on lever 211 A lock'notch 24 intheconvey'or--lever isposi tioned toreceive a hookj25 pivoted to a receiver box 26 at 2'1. A plate orvan 28 positioned in the path of the' eje'ctedshuttle moves-with the hookand the latter is counter-weighted so that ittends normally to enter the notch. The coriveyor lever and counterweight Z9 co -act to preventthe shuttle from dropping into the box until after the conveyorlever has moved rearwardly out .of restraining position-with 're's'pect to the counter-weight." H 9A- shuttle guidingfapron 30, is secured tothe under side of the lay and extends to the back part-of. the receiver boxin such a position as to direct the ejected shuttle toward the. plate 28. Theconveyor lever may be normally. in the posi-' tion shown in Fig. land. during the first part ofthe replenishingoperation thenotch 24 will be moved to the leftso. that the countereweightcan I forward "arm 53.

move the hook into the notch if no. shuttle is resting on the plate 28. The cam 23 is timed to start the rear or right hand movement of the conveyor lever as .viewedin Fig. 1 after the shuttle has had time to reach the plat-e 28, and

failure of the shuttle to beproperly ejected will permit the counter-weight to move the hook into E venting transfer.

38 connected to lever 39 is depressed by cam 46 onshaft l2'toraise the box plate 35. The latter moves to a position above the shuttle before engaging a. screw 4| on ejector lever 42' pivoted 'at'43 to the lay. Further upward movement of thenlever. 36 therefore rocks the ejector in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to force the ejector finger against the'shuttle 8, thereby movingithe'latterunderthe'plate and-for- Wardly of. the lay, causing-the'shuttle to descend along the aprontowardthe plate 28. a V A lever 45 may. operate upon starting-rodAfi when moved bycam l'lon shaft 52 to'effectresumption' of loomioperation 'a'fter' the change shaft has completed one revolution. The shaft may require' a half .adozen picks or morefor. 5

its rdtatiom'depending upon thetime allotted for replenishment. The matter 'thus far described may 'be as setforth in my last'named co-pending application. a

In carrying rny'presentv inventioninto effect provide means forcontrolling the weft of the ejected shuttle so that the'same'may be clamped and cut and for controlling the loom through the weft; Accordingly; I formthe magazine with a' rearwardly extending born 58 to which is ipiv-, oted at.5l a bellpcrank lever '52 having an upper .This arm .hasian adjustable sliding driving'connection with a corresponding arm 54 on one of the levers !6, namely; the inner lever. Acutting and clamping armss pivotedas at 56 to the arm 52 isshown in detail in Fig. "5.

stop finger 68 'on'arm EE-bears'against a part 59 of arm 52 to limit action of the spring; 1

The lower end ofarm is formed with a cutting edge 60 and'has piVoted thereto as at'6i a movablecutting 'andiclarnping jaw 62, having a cutting edge 63,"se'e Fig.6. A thread clamp'M is movably mounted on the arm'55 and is held yieldingly in p'o'sition by a spring 65. 'The clamp is positioned by-thepivot 6! and 'a guidepin 66 carried"by"the-arm'55. An operating. finger 61-extends downwardlyand forwardly fromth'e'cutter jaw 62 and is positioned for engagement with a surface carried'by'the'lay; A' tripfin'ger 68 also'moving with the-jaw is-posi tioned to' engage a releasing hook-'69 pivoted as downward'movementof the hook. The'lay may at 10 to the magazine and has a stop finger Jl toengage a stop pin 12 on the'magazine tolimit' .be'providedwith a notch 13 appropriatelyformedx V to'receive'the cutting and'clamping unit.

In Fig. 3Ishowa conventional form of selvage trimmer mounted on atemple liand having a blade 76 which operates in'the usual manner to approvedform and operates subsequent to the. op-

eration ofmy present cutter'and clamp. p

' 'In =openation, the loom will be brought torest b the We t d tects.r. not shown, with the ay n oa'poth ce sa i v i fu l back center 119.5 Me hanism not shown her in but simla o tha shown .my aforesaid appl at will start shaft 12 rotating and cause forward motienef carrier 15 with attendant down motion ofarrn .54 to project the cutting and clamping unit rearwardly. As the unit movesrearwardly the hook 559 will engage the releasing finger 68 and open the clamp and cutter, as shown in Fig. 2, to define notch for the weft W. As the unit continues to move toward the lay, finger 6? will strike the lay and close the cutter and clamp, severing the weft and clamping that part of it which e e-nds toward the cloth.

Ihe setting of the parts is such that when the lay is in 'rearmost position the spring 51 will yield somewhat when the cutter closes. This insures complete closure for all reasonable positions of t ay.

It is to be understood that this operation of the cutter and clamp occurs during the first part of the replenishing period before the ejected shuttle leaves the lay, of has had substantial movement relatively to the lay. I prefer to time the operations so that the notch'8ll will reach rear position and close on the thread before the shuttle has entirely left the lay, this arrangement insuring entry of the weft of the outgoing or ejected shuttle in the notch and also before the tension of the weft can be changed materially. At each cutting operation the lay is at rest with the weft undisturbed by lay motion and therefore in practically the same position for each shuttle changing operation. Since the lay is at rest the rate of cutting is the same for all shuttle changes.

Continued operation will move the carrier l5 rearwardly with simultaneous forward motion of the cutter unit until the latter reaches normal position as shown in Fig. 1. The rear face of hook 69 is cam shaped to ride up and over the opening finger 68. The clamp now holds the weft end d iagonally as shown in Fig. 3 and in this position the selvage trimmer will cut the thread with n a pick or two after the loom restarts. The clamp holds thethread 8| untilthe next shuttle change, whereupon it. releases the weft end at the beginning of the backward motion while the lay is back. 'The falling thread therefore does not fall on the lay.

A center filling stop motion H0 is shown in Fi 2 and performs the usual function of stopping the loom if weft is not present in the shed. Such a condition will exist if the unit cuts the thread but the shuttle fails to be ejected due to defective mechanism, and the weaver can then determine the cause of loom stoppage.

Another feature of my invention which depends upon the cutter unit is that which relates to the side stop motion control which prevents restarting. As shown more particularly in Fig. 7 a filling stop motion T has a slide 83 to which is piv- 'o'ted a usual fork 84. A lever 85 pivoted at 8B is rocked by forward motion of the slide to the left in Fig. 7'to' raise alink 8'! connectedto a rock arm 88. The latter is normally down to allow a pin 89 in a lever 90 tooccupy a notch 9! which extends up from a slot 92 in a rod head 93. Lever 9!} is secured to the shipper shaft 94, while rod head 93 is on a rod 45 which extends back to an arm 95 of a restarting lever 45. A coller 98 on the rod is positioned to be pushed rearwardly by arm 56. A stop motion lever 99 carries a notched head I00 to coast with the loop "ll of the fork rock to move arm 96 to the right, Fig. 7, and if pin 89 is in'notch 9|, arm 90 and shipper shaft 3 will be moved to running position. If the rod head 93 should be raised, the loom will not be restarted, since rod 46 will have an idle motion and slot 92 will move along pin 89. Such an operation is desirable if the last pick of weft to be laid by the outgoing shuttle should be defective.

The filling fork 84 determines whether the loom shall be restarted. If weft extends from the selvage to the thread clamp it will tilt the fork .2

and lift loop Ilil above the head I00. Cam I02 will rock lever 99 to advance the head, moving itto the left in Fig. 7, and slide 83 will remain at rest, permitting pin 89 to remain in notch 9|.

Should weft be absent on the shuttle changing.

pick, however, the fork will not be tilted and loop lfil, connected as usual to the slide 83, will advance the latter and cause lifting of arm 88 when cam I02 rocks lever 99. This is the condition as already described. which prevents restarting of the loom.

} It should be noticed, by reference to Fig. 3, that the fork 84 is far enough in front of the lay to avoid contact with the weft during normal weaving and that reliance is had on the thread clamp to move the thread of the outgoing shuttle against the fork. This latter feature is so even should the fork be in the usual position, because the lay stops in back position away from the stop motion and the clamp operates to move the thread against the fork without requiring' forward motion of the lay.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple form of cutter and clamp which is projected against a stationary lay when the latter is in rear position to sever the weft of the outgoing shuttle and to clamp the same, thereby maintaining the tension of the weft in the shed which is open at the time, while permitting the ejected shuttle to carry the weft end connected thereto into the receiver box without tending to pull the weft end through the clamp to tighten the pick in the shed. It will also be seen that at the next replenishment the weft end is released when the cutting and clamping unit is near its foremost position and while the lay is at rest in rear position. Also, it will be seen that the cutter and clamping units perform their operations whenever replenishment is called for regardless of the operation of the conveyor lever, so that even though an exchange of shuttles is prevented from some improper operation of the loom, the cutter will nevertheless sever the weft of the shuttle. When the shuttle is picked to the opposite side of the loom upon resumption of weaving the center filling fork will stop the loom and the weaver can detect the cause for the defective replenishing operation. The cutter and clamping parts are made yieldable on the arm 52 so that engagement with an ejected shuttle, will not result in breakage, spring 51 being provided for this purpose. The clamp is set to yield even with the lay in rearmost position in order to insure correct operation for any probable position of the lay. It will further be seen that the invention is particularly adaptable 1 to a multicolor shuttle changing loom which employs the carrier l5. Furthermore, a side filling fork is provided which operates in conjunction with the thread clamp to prevent restarting of the loom should the last pick laid by the outgoing shuttle be incomplete. -While I have shown,

a specific form of cutter and clamp yet I do not wish to be limited to the same.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herea in disclosed, but'what I claim is:

1. In a shuttle changing loom which stops to effect shuttle change and then resumes weaving, areserve shuttle magazine, a lay which is at rest during the time that the depleted shuttle is expelled from the loom, means to move a fresh shuttle toward the-lay while the loom is stopped,

and a thread cutter and clamp movable by the means into engagement with the stationary lay,

said engagement causing the clamp to catch and changing period, a combined thread cutter and clamp mounted independently of the lay, and

means to project the cutter and clamp when open toward and against the stationary lay to cause the latter to close the clamp and sever the weft of the depleted shuttle. I

3. In a shuttle changing loom which stops with the lay in rear position during the shuttle changing period, a shuttle changing mechanism including a part actuated during the replenishing period, a thread cutter and clamp normally independent of the lay, and operative connections between the part and cutter and clamp to move the latterwhile open against the stationary lay to cause the latter to close the cutter and clamp.

4. In a shuttle changing loom whichstops with the lay in rear position during the shuttle changing period, a reserve shuttle magazine, a carrier therefor to advance a shuttle from the magazine toward'the lay, a combined thread cutter and clamp, and connections'between the carrier and combined cutter and clamp to move the latter against the stationary lay and cause the latter to close the clamp.

5. Ina shuttle changing loom which stops with the lay in rear position, a conveyor lever to move a shuttle to the lay during the replenishing period, a weft parter to sever the weft of the depleted shuttle during said period, means to deliver'a reserve shuttle to the conveyor, connections between the parter and means rendering the latter effective to operate the parter to sever the weft independently of the-conveyor, and. a filling stop motion to stop theloom if the depleted shuttle is rendered active upon resumption of loom operation due to failure of the ejector.

6. In a shuttle changing loom which stops with the lay in rear position, a depleted shuttle ejector operable during the replenishing period, a

thread parter to cut the weft of the depleted shuttle during said period, a replenishing element performing its function of advancing a reserve shuttle toward the lay independently of the ejecton connections between the element and 2,048,086 I r I parter to operate the latter to cut the wetter the depleted shuttle independently of the ejector,

the latter is at rest, a cutter and clamp opening element effective to open the cutter and clamp during the first part of the rearward movement thereof, and a member carried by the cutter and clamp to engage the lay to close the cutter and clamp and cause-the same to seize andcut the thread extending from the depleted shuttle to the cloth.-

8. In a shuttle changing" loom having a layand and a filling stop motion to stop the loom if the a depleted shuttle with the weft end extending from the shuttle to the cloth, the lay, shuttle and weft end beingsubstantially at rest with the lay in rear position during the beginning of the-ree plenishing periodfa thread 'cutter and clamp, 5 and means to'mov'e the ,cutterand clamp rearwardly during the beginning of the replenishing period to cut and clamp the substantially stationary weft at a point betwejen the depleted shuttle and the cloth, whereby movement of Q the shuttle at; a later time in the replenishing periodis rendered inefiective tovary the tension 7 of the we ft extending" from the clamp to the cloth. 1

9. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay and a depleted shuttle with the weft end extending from the shuttle to the, cloth, the'lay, shuttle and weft'end being'substantially at rest with the lay V in rear position during the beginning of the replenishing period, a combined thread cutterand clamp, and means to project the cutter and clamp toward the'lay to engage the latter and be operated thereby to sever theweft extending from the clamp to the depleted shuttle and to clamp the weft extending'tow'ard the cloth, whereby movement'ofrthe shuttle's'ubsequent to the cutting operation is "ineifeCtiveto alter the tension of theweftextendirig fromtheclamp to the cloth. l f" 1 10. In a shuttle changingjloom having 'a lay which comes to. rest in rear position during the shuttle changing period, the lay capable of assuming any one of a plurality of positions of rest adjacent the rearmost position, a thread cut,- ter and clamp, means to project the cutter and clampjtoward the lay to cause. op eration of said cutter and clamp by the" lay, and a yielding connection between the'means and the cutter and clamp to yield when thecutter and clamplare operatively relatedito, the lay when the latter is in any of the aforesaid .plurality'of positions adjacent the ,re'armostposition.

i 11. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay" movable backwardly and forwardly between front and back positionsand coming to rest atior adja cent to, the back position during the, shuttle changing period, a thread cutter andclamp nor-' mally in forward pcsition,'means to project'the yielding connection between the means and the cutter and clamp constructed and proportioned to yield upon engagement'of the cutter and clamp with the lay when the latter is in any of its rear positions during the shuttle changing period.

12. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttle change, restarting mechanism, a filling fork, means to establish operative connections between the filling fork and the restarting mechanism, and a thread clamp to hold the thread extending from the shuttle to be ejected and effect operative relation between the weft and the filling fork, the fork when weft is absent being effective through the said means to prevent the restarting mechanism from starting the loom.

13. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest with the lay in back position during the shuttle changing period, loom restarting mechanism, a filling fork, means to establish operative connections between the restarting mechanism and the fork to prevent operation of the restarting mechanism when the connections are established, a thread clamp to clamp the weft extending from the shuttle to be ejected and move said weft thread against the fork and thereby prevent the fork from establishing connections with the restarting mechanism, and the means operative upon failure of the clamp to present a weft thread to the fork to establish said connections and thereby prevent the loom from resuming running after the shuttle changing period.

14. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttle change, restarting mechanism operative after a shuttle change to cause the loom to resume weaving operations, a thread clamp to give a motion to the thread extending from the cloth to the shuttle to be ejected, and means effective upon failure of the clamp to move said thread to prevent the restarting mechanism from causing the loom to resume operations.

15. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttle changing, restarting mechanism to cause the loom to resume weaving operations at the conclusion of the shuttle change, a member to be engaged by weft extending from the cloth toward the shuttle to be ejected and a controller for the restarting mechanism depending upon engagement of the member by said weft to effect operation of the restarting mechanism.

16. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, a member to be engaged by weft extending from the cloth toward the shuttle to be ejected and means operative upon failure of said member to be engaged by the Weft to prevent the restarting mechanism from restarting the loom.

LEWIS S. VOSE. 

